When you’re just starting out as a heuristic evaluator, the list of things to remember can be overwhelming. One of the most confusing aspects of this job is knowing when you should apply each heuristic and how it can be assessed or tested. You want to make sure that your evaluation will produce meaningful insights into how well the product meets user needs, but there are just so many heuristics to remember! Luckily, we have some basic guidelines that can help you figure out which heuristics are right for each situation, no matter if you’re evaluating desktop software or an app on your phone.
1) Not Involving Users
One of the most common mistakes made during heuristic evaluations is not involving users. It’s important to get feedback from actual users because they can provide insights that you may not have considered. Without their input, you run the risk of making assumptions about what users want or need.
2) Not Asking Why
One of the most common mistakes newbies make during heuristic evaluations is not asking why. Why is this feature important? How does it help users achieve their goals? Without understanding the reasoning behind a design, it’s difficult to provide meaningful feedback.
3) Focusing on Only One Dimension of Usability
When you’re new to heuristic evaluations, it’s easy to get caught up in only one dimension of usability: functionality. However, there are four other dimensions of usability that are just as important: learnability, efficiency, memorability, and errors. Make sure you take all of these into account when you’re conducting your evaluation.
4) Using an Incomplete Checklist
When you’re new to heuristic evaluations, it’s easy to make mistakes. One common mistake is using an incomplete checklist. Make sure you’re using a comprehensive checklist that covers all aspects of the user experience.
5) Getting Too Close to the Problem
It can be easy to get too close to the problem you’re trying to solve when you’re new to UX. This can lead you to make assumptions about what users want or need without any evidence to back it up. Try to take a step back and look at the problem from different angles.
Conclusion
If you’re new to heuristic evaluations, it’s easy to make mistakes that can impact the quality of your results. To avoid these mistakes, it’s best to hire a UI/UX design company in India that has experience with heuristic evaluations. With their help, you can be sure that your evaluation will be conducted correctly and produce the insights you need to improve your design.
